Combination gripper for printing presses



Sept. 17, M35. s. MECKLER 2,014,975

COMBINATION GRIPPER FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug. 3o, 1934 HIIIIHIIIHIIHIIIHHI Patented Sept. 17, 1935 PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION GRIPPER FOR PRINTING PRESSES Samuel Meckler, St. Paul, Minn.

Application August 30, 1934, Serial No. 742,045

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in means for contacting and retaining paper in correct position on printing presses during and immediately after each print or impression, the device I have designed. therefor being most aptly designated as a combination gripper.

The main object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and highly eiiicient combination gripper for positively engaging and holdlO ing paper in its place in the press until such time after each printing action as is necessary to provide for readily removing each printed sheet. The features of construction and the advantages of its use are hereinafter fully set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a top View of one of rny combination grippers, shown approximately in full size.

Fig. 2 is a left end elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a lower edge View of Fig. 1 and showing additionally a portion of a printing press gripper bar on which the gripper device is frictionally retained.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of certain parts of a printing press involved in the use of my devices,

a pair of my grippers being shown in operative position.

Fig. 5 is an exterior edge view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, in nearly closed position, that is the platen and chase are close to each other, and

a pair of my combination grippers in partly compressed condition therebetween.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of my combination grippers in initial contact with a paper on the platen of a press.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, I have illustrated particularly in Figs. 4 and 5 such parts of a printing press pertaining to the use of my device and will be readily understood by anyone familiar with press construction andY their operation.

In Figs. 4 and 5, 7 designates a chase in which is secured the type 8. 9 is the platen on which is laid paper II) to be printed, said paper contacted and retained at its sides by a pair of flat gripper bars II which are hingedly mounted and adapted to be swung down toward the paper when the platen moves toward Contact position with the type. In Fig. 5 the chase and its type are shown almost in contact with the paper.

My combination gripper comprises 4a sheet metal member of L-shape, designated G as a whole, the shorter arm or base G2 thereof comprising an elongated grip of U-shape in cross section and adapted to be slipped on and frictionally retained on and at the inner edge portion of a gripper bar II in such manner that the longer arm GS-Gt of the combination gripper extends inwardly at right angles and toward the other gripper bar II. Outwardly of part G2 the gripper comprises a pair of diverging arms 5 G25-Gt of which the former is normally in common plane with the bar I i and the latter extends outwardly angularly away from and over arm G3 to its free end (see Fig. 3).

lThe said arms GS-Gll are normally sprung 10 apart, yieldably, by a pair of intermediate springmetal members Gti-G5 which are fixed respectively to the adjacent inner faces of the arms at their free ends. These spring members are spring leaves and arched to contact each other 15 intermediate their ends, the inner ends of said springs bearing and riding on the inner faces of the arms.

Longitudinally of one of the free edges of the clamp part G2 and parallel to said edge I pro- 20 Vide a row of serrations or inwardly directed projections G'I for the purpose of additional friction hold on a gripper bar I I such latter bars in some instances being formed with a corresponding row of serrations I IS parallel to the inner edge there- 25 of (See Fig. 6).

One or more pairs of these combination grippers may be used on each pair of gripper bars I I of a printing press, right and left grippers being used and all located so as to be contacted on their 30 outwardly sprung arms G4 by the frame part of a chase l' (exteriorly of the type).

When a chase and platen are moved toward each other, the gripper bars II being intermediate them, members G3 will rst contact the 35 paper and then the chase will contact the outer arm GII. As the chase and platen close the arms G4 are sprung toward their respective arms G3, the springs G5 and GB merely yielding therebetween until the arms are about parallel and 40 the type makes the imprint on the paper. The paper is securely retained by the arms G3 from time of first contact and as the chase subsequently is separated from the platen the arms G3 continue to contact the paper IEI firmly, the arms G4 45 gradually spreading but maintaining spring pressure on arms G3 and on the paper until the arms G4 are again in free or unsprung position. Obviously this action holds the paper rmly in place just before, during and just after each printing 50 action of the press, the paper remaining flat and rigidly on the platen until the spring actuated arms G4-G3 are free and removed from paper contact by the swinging action of the gripper arms II away from the platen. The result is 55 very neat printing and positive elimination of blurred printed sheets. The entire arm G3 is positively pressed flat upon the paper throughout the whole time that pressure is in effect due to double contact of spring leaf G6 on the arm and the latter (the arm) positively cannot bow intermediate its ends.

I claim:

1. A combination gripper device for printing presses, said device comprising an L-shaped member formed with its short arm comprising an elongated sheet metal grip of U-shape in cross section and adapted to be frictionally and removably retained on a gripper bar of a printing press, the other and longer arm of said device extending integrally from said short arm and comprising a pair of flat vertically registering arms of spring metal, one of which extends normally in angular relation from the other arm, the latter arm being normally in common plane with one side of said grip, and spring means intermediate said arms normally spreading them apart, said grip member provided with a row of serrations parallel to one of its free edges for the purpose set forth.

2. A combination gripper device for printing presses, said device comprising an L-shaped member formed with its base part comprising an elongated sheet metal grip of U-shape in cross section and adapted to be irictionally and removably retained on a gripper bar of a printing press,

vthe other and. longer arm of said device extending integrally at right angles from said short 2,014,975 `i j f arm and comprising a pair of fiat registering arms of spring metal one of which extends in angular relation from the other arm, one arm being normally in common plane with one side of the grip, and spring means intermediate said arms to normally spread them, said spring means intermediate the arms comprising for each arm an arched leaf spring slidably contacting the arm with one end and its other end fixed to the arm, both said leaf springs contacting each other intermediate their ends.

3. In a combination gripper for printing presses, said gripper comprising an L-shaped metallic device of which the shorter arm com- 'prises an elongated friction grip securable to a gripper bar of a printing press; the longer arm of said device comprising a pair of integral at bars xed at and extending from said grip part and normally spread apart to their free ends, yieldable spring means continuously pressing said arms apart, one bar of said pair adapted to engage a paper on a printing press platen and the other bar arranged in the path of the chase to be pressed toward the rst bar during impression and yieldably engaged by said bar after impression until its free end and the gripper bar are removed from platen contact, said yieldable spring means comprising for each arm a bowed flat spring Xed with one end to the arm and the other end slidably contacting the arm, the intermediate bowed parts of said flat springs in continuous contact.

SAMUEL MECKLER. 

